Dispenser for web material

Abstract

A container for dispensing selected portions of a web material and a method of making such a container. The container is arranged to contain the web material and has an opening through which the web material can be led out of the container. A track is positioned such that web material led out of the container through the opening can be laid across the track. A cutter is capable of sliding along the track and of cutting web material laid across the track. At least in a packaged configuration for shipping, the track and cutter do not extend beyond an outline of the container.

1. A dispenser for containing a supply of flexible web material and for dispensing a portion of the web material and severing the portion from the remaining web material in the dispenser, comprising:
 a container formed by at least first, second, and third side walls serially connected to one another along longitudinal edges thereof that form corners of the container and a pair of opposite end walls connected to opposite end edges of the side walls, each of the side walls having at least a major portion that is substantially planar and is angularly oriented relative to the side walls adjacent thereto, the planar major portions of the side walls defining an external geometric profile of the container; 
 an elongate opening defined in one of the side walls through which a portion of the web material can be dispensed; 
 one of the corners of the container defining a recessed area formed by a first wall portion that connects with the first side wall and a second wall portion that connects with the second side wall, the first and second wall portions extending inwardly away from the external geometric profile and toward an interior of the container and being connected to each other at a concave corner, such that the recessed area is inside the external geometric profile, the first and second wall portions extending longitudinally for a length that is less than a distance from one end wall to the other end wall; 
 a polymer track affixed to the container and disposed in the recessed area such that the track is inside the external geometric profile, the cutter track having a length substantially as long as the distance from one end wall to the other end wall; 
 a cutter engaged with the track and slidable therealong for cutting a portion of web material dispensed through the elongate opening and laid across the track, wherein the cutter is entirely inside the external geometric profile; and 
 wherein each of the opposite ends of the track is overhung by first and second non-recessed portions of the first and second side walls, respectively, the first and second non-recessed portions each being joined to an adjacent one of the end walls and extending longitudinally partway along the distance from said adjacent end wall toward the other end wall. 
 
   
   
     2. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein finger openings are defined through the container adjacent the elongate opening. 
   
   
     3. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the track is adhered to at least one of the first and second wall portions forming the recessed area. 
   
   
     4. The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the track has a base portion and a rail portion joined to the base portion, the base portion having a generally triangular cross-sectional shape and being adhered to the first and second wall portions adjacent the concave corner therebetween such that the rail portion is obliquely oriented relative to each of the first and second wall portions. 
   
   
     5. The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the base portion of the track is formed in part by two walls that extend obliquely relative to the rail portion and that have distal edges that are spaced apart to define a gap therebetween. 
   
   
     6. The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the base portion of the track is formed in part by two walls that extend obliquely relative to the rail portion and that have distal edges that are joined together. 
   
   
     7. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a generally triangular cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
     8. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a fourth side wall and has a generally square or rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
     9. The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable cover that covers the track and cutter.